Manipur Trek - The Lure Of The Lily

A SOLO TREK TO SHIRUI KASHONG IN SEARCH OF THE SHIRUI LILY

- Jitaditya Narzary

THIS WAS not my first time in Ukhrul but on my previous visit, it rained so much that the planned trek to Shirui peak had to be canceled. Back then, I spoke to a local tour agency for help but was constantly worried about the costs. So, apart from completing the trek, this time I decided to do it myself, without hiring a guide or a vehicle, to save costs. In a more touristy state like Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand, I do this anyway for smaller treks. However, in these hills of Manipur, where tourism is just beginning to pick up, I did hesitate a bit. The trek is some kilometers away from Ukhrul town and there was no clear information available about the distance, duration, cost, facilities, route, as well as the current status of the much talked about Shirui lilies.

Reaching Ukhrul

I reached Imphal from Kohima, Nagaland, on a bright sunny day in May, just after a pleasant Dzukou Valley trek where I finally managed to catch the Dzukou lilies on my third attempt! After that, I was more or less certain the Shirui lilies too were blooming. Unfortunately, as it turned out, the lilies remained elusive but I managed to complete the trek, that too without anyone’s help, and by only spending peanuts.

At Imphal, I booked a ticket in a shared car from the ISBT and the ride started at around 6 am. During my rain-marred previous trip, the hilly road was in really bad shape, with a huge pothole in the middle of the road at some point, which forced passengers to walk for a few kilometers and board a different bus on the other side of the hole. But thankfully that stretch had been repaired and so the ride was smooth and I reached Ukhrul at around 9.30 am.

At Ukhrul